JOE Tate is making Emmerdale viewers want to vomit with his ‘psychopathic move’.

The returning schemer – who is played by actor Ned Porteous in the ITV soap – has been working his morally dubious ways through the village since making a bombshell comeback on Christmas Day.

His eerily calm demeanour hasn’t changed – not when faced with a dying Will Taylor, nor a sexually charged Dawn Taylor.

He’s been determined to win over his former step-grandmother Kim Tate – despite her trying to have him killed.

And he wants to reunite with his brother Noah and seems genuine in his attempts to rebuild their relationship.

However there is one thing that he has been doing that has pushed people to the edge – and it involves the secret pills he’s been taking.

Viewers have watched as Joe has been seen to be suffering from some kind of medical issue requiring pills.

At one point he collapsed and suffered some kind of seizure, while at another point he appeared to be in a great deal of pain before quickly taking some medication.

But the way he’s taken the pills – straight down with no water – has been seen as unhinged behaviour.

It’s got viewers thinking it’s the move of a psychopath to just dry swallow huge tablets.

What is Joe hiding? Is he ill or is he a drug addict? Or is it something darker?

Actor Ned Porteous previously teased: “There’s a lot of unfinished business for Joe, and it feels like the right time for him to make a comeback.

Joe Tate hiding dark secret after shock return to Emmerdale

“Joe has always been a character with a dark side, but there could be something much bigger at play here.

“Joe is back for a reason, and the devastation at Home Farm is just the beginning of a much bigger story.

“It’s safe to say the audience can expect fireworks this holiday season!